Hardline Hindu groups are demanding restrictions on wearing the hijab inclassrooms in more Indian states after a court upheld a banlinkonthe traditional Islamic headscarf in Karnataka state, worrying Muslimstudents who had protested against the ban.

The Karnataka High Court decision on Tuesday, backing the southern state’sban on the hijab in February, has also been welcomed by top federalministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), who say students should avoid wearing religiousclothing in class.

There is no national guideline on uniforms in India and states often leaveit to schools to decide what their students should wear.